Choosing a Pen Name

Choosing a pen name is often a choice dictated by a variety of factors, but like most decisions that deal with building a platform and a brand, it's not only personal but business.

I first decided that I would need a pen name when I started writing steampunk.  My real name has more of a chic lit feel to it, but worse, there's a porn star with the same name.  As a result, the chances of googling my name and finding ME instead of the popular G-string starlet would be slim to none.  Not a great way to be easily accessible to readers.

With the decision made to choose a pen name, I quickly came up with a checklist.

• Google Hits-- When choosing a name, put the first and last name in quotes and google it.  I like the number to be under 1000 hits (or close to it).  That guarantees that by the time you're well into your platform building, you'll have taken over that name, so that when someone googles it, they'll primarily get your website, your Twitter/Facebook account, or your blog.
•  An available domain-- You'll likely want to put up a website to help promote yourself, and since it's likely you'll write more than one book, it's best if you put your website in your name, rather than your book title.  Having that domain be available is a huge plus, though there are ways around it, like adding "author" to your name.  Not great, but still an option, if you have your heart set on a particular name.
•  How easy is the name to remember? Pronounce? Spell?-- This is HUGE. If no one will be able to remember it, say it, spell it, then it's probably not a great choice. 
• Does it suit the genre you'll be writing?-- This deals with not only the feel of the name (sounding too modern, when you write historicals, etc), but also with whether the name sounds too male/female when it's a genre that's dominated by a particular sex.  For example, writing romance with a name that sounds male, may turn off some readers.
•  Does the name sound like a joke?-- Picking a name that sounds too fake (often done to fit the genre to an extreme) can be a turn off.  Remember-- this is still a business venture so naming yourself Luscious Fantastique just because you write erotica or Vampira Nightshade because you write paranormals, probably isn't a wise move.
• Is the name already being used by someone else?-- A porn star (lol)? An actor/actress? Another author? Is it too close in the way it sounds to another author?

Whatever name you choose, I highly recommend using it for your Twitter account (both the user name and the @name), because each tweet gives that name another hit on google.  This means that before long, when someone googles your pen name, they will get you, or one of your tweets.  This will of course lead to your Twitter account which should also have a link to your website, making it fairly simple for any readers to find you.

My favorite place to look for names is, hands down the Baby Names section on Parent's Connect (though the recent addition of video to the site is making me crazy).  They offer a cool feature that allows you to find names with a similar feel to a particular name, or names that sound similar.  This becomes useful if you really like a name but can't use it because it has high hits on google, or doesn't meet one of the other criteria.  Now you can easily find a different one that "feels" the same.

I hope this list will help, if you're considering pen names.  Have you already chosen a pen name or plan on using one?  What were your criteria?

International Steampunk City Photos

The International Steampunk City took place in Waltham, MA, not only at the Charles River Museum of Industry, but spilling out into the town.  The event was fantastic, and there was a great turn out-- 2500 people on each of the two days of the event.

Here are some pictures from the event (some mine, some borrowed from other attendees).

The International Steampunk City

Last year, I attended the first annual steampunk event at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, MA and had a fantastic time.  Well, this year is promising to be an even bigger extravaganza with the event spilling out into the streets and taking over a section of the city.

The International Steampunk City will take place this weekend, May 7th and 8th on Moody Street, Waltham, MA and once again at the Charles River Museum.  There's a full schedule of events, and it looks like it'll be great time.

Of course, I'll do a follow up post with pictures, and if anyone is going and would like to meet up, just let me know! 

Shiny and New!

I'm so excited!!  Just a few weeks ago, I got together with a group of amazing writers I met through Agent Query, and the idea to start a collective blog was born. 

From querying and publishing, to specifics about genre and the craft of writing, From the Write Angle will tackle it all.  Best of all, because each one of us brings something different to the table, there should be an endless supply of variety and useful information.

It is officially launch day, and new posts will go up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  We've already stocked it with a few goodies, so be sure to check it out!  I do hope you'll enjoy it!

It's Been too Long!

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post, but things have been crazy busy, and for the most part in a good way. 

A few months ago, I signed a contract for a steampunk clothing craft book, which should be out next spring.  It got off to a bit of a slow start, since I needed to get set up for taking professional looking photos, but I've finally got an area setup (right in the middle of my living room).  I'll be taking pics of everything I do, as I do it, so there's a step by step guide for each project included in the book. The first project is underway, and looking great.

In addition, I'm in the process of wrapping up the manuscript I've been working on, and though it's not steampunk, it is a paranormal and does take place during the Victorian time period. I'm hoping to have that wrapped up and edited in the next month so.  Very excited about that manuscript.  I think it could do quite well since it puts a new twist on a story many know.

There's also a bit more exciting news, but I'll need to keep that under wraps for now, though I promise you won't have to wait too long.

Hope all is well with you!

Best,
Cali

Going With Your Gut

When writing, I'll often hear a tiny voice whispering to me.  It may tell me that there's something not quite right with a scene or character, or perhaps it would be best if I changed a certain aspect of what's happening.  It's just a little niggling feeling, that is actually quite easy to ignore, but the problem is it never goes away.  And the even bigger problem?  That voice is usually right.

After having the wonderful opportunity of editing my manuscript with my agent, I realized that those little whispers were there for a reason, since too often, the changes made to the manuscript coincided with one another.   All I had done was delay the inevitable changes-- changes that would have been easier to take care of early on, and most importantly strengthened my manuscript.

So now I know.  I listen to my gut.  And if my gut's telling me a scene should be cut or changed-- whatever it happens to be whispering in my ear-- I take care of the matter, then and there.  Might as well, right?  The issues sure aren't going to go away just because I ignore them.

So, how about you?  Or am I the only one hearing voices?

On Writing Accents

"Ye hae a guid Scots tung in yir heid,"  is a Scottish saying which means, "You have a good Scots tongue in your head." In other words, "You can speak up for yourself." 

Could you imagine an entire book where one or several characters speak in such a heavy accent?  It would break the flow of your story each time one of those characters spoke, since the reader would have to stop and try to figure out what's just been said.  No doubt, a trying and tiring excercise for the reader.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love writing accents, whether they're due to a location, a time period or schooling.  I think they can add character and voice, however, there's a balance that you as the writer need to find, if you choose to actually write out the accent.  There's always the option to mention the character has an accent, and leave it at that, but if you choose to show it on the page, then here are a few things I've found helpful.

• Pick just a few words that you'll change, or pick a "rule", such as dropping the "g" off -ing words.  You'll get the voice and impact you're looking for, but without sacrificing readability.
• Try and use phrases or particular words specific to an area.  Every country or locale has it's own way of saying things, and this can be an easy way to get across the person's place of language, without spelling out an accent.
• Try and find the rhythm of the language.  Each language has it's own rhythm and if you can, through your word placement, capture that, you'll immediately get a feel of that place.  Unfortunately, this might be the hardest thing to nail if you haven't lived in the area (or been in regular contact with someone from there).  One option is to try and find books, articles, movies or shows from the area, and pay close attention to the rythm of the language and placement of words.  Another option is to find a writer who has managed to write the accent, and has done an excellent job of it.

For me, the last two are particularly key if writing a different time period.  Writing steampunk, my story is usually set in the late 1800's, and the language would not only be more formal with a different rhythm, but would also use different words. But again, it's important to find a balance so that a modern reader, used to twitter and text messages, isn't having to wade through wordy, flowery prose.

Have any of you attempted to write accents?  How do you approach it?

When the Pieces Fall into Place

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but it seems like things tend to get away from me during the hot summer months.  Luckily, I've still managed to get a fair amount done.  I'm happy to say I've wrapped up edits on my manuscript, Devil on a Sparrow's Wing, and have now moved on to a new story-- a story I'm crazy excited about. 

I had this idea for a story a few years back, but every attempt to write it immediately fizzled out on the page.  I didn't quite know why.  It was a great story idea (No. Really!!), but once I sat down to write it, time and again the words would slow and stop. 

About six months ago, as I started to give the story some more thought.  I knew the idea was a good one, but it was missing something.  I changed the time period from modern day to Victorian.  That certainly helped things, but it was still the same story and I worried that when I sat to write it once again, I would have the same problem. 

Then it came it to me.  As I discussed the storyline with a few critique partners (can NOT live without them!) the story took on a new life, morphing and evolving as the ideas all fell into place to form a new story.  Something unlike anything else out there, though it was an old story told from a different perspective. It still had the original story idea at the heart of it, but with a new twist--an incredible twist!! 

Perhaps my muse had kept me from writing the story all along, knowing it had not yet evolved into what it needed to be.  And this time, when I sat to write it, the words flowed effortlessly.  All the pieces fall into place.

Now granted, this is still the honeymoon stage for me-- the first 10K words are always the easiest and the sweetest.  Just like that first kiss, when everything is new and shiny and exciting.  I'll eventually come down off the clouds around 20K words, but that's ok.  I'm in it for the long haul.

Do you have a method you use to try and brainstorm your story ideas?  For me, jotting down notes helps, but talking and writing out the story concept is where I'm most successful in working things out.